Apparatus for feeding rod-shaped articles to consuming machines



Sept. 8, 1970 u BORNFLETH ET AL 3,527,369

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES TO CONSUMING MACHINES Filed June 17, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5 42 My /flz( z ATTORNEY Sept. 8 1970 u. BORNFLETH ET AL 3,527,369

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES TO CONSUMING MACHINES Filed June 17, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2a (43a 4C 3 \d Fig. 3

INVENTORS Arm/way Sept. 8, 1970 BQRNFLETH ET AL 3,527,369

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES T CONSUMING MACHINES Filed June 17, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I83 [82 I82 109a ms X I66 I- l, 1090 m 7 'I- X' 135 I8! r l I./ 135 4 72 l I v I I24--.. E, I I I A /m 172/173;

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Fig.7 WW F 9- //V V E NTDRS ATTORNEY Sept. 8, 1970 U. BORNFLETH ET AL APPARATUS FOR FEEDING Ron-SHAPED ARTICLES T0 CONSUMING MACHINES Filed June 17,. 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 tux 1 Ln a fl ma 0 mwz W6 e f N MM M Nnfi M /MW,% 4 Y, B

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,527,369 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES T0 CONSUMING MACHINES Ulrich Bornfleth and Fritz Selonke, Hamburg, Germany,

assignors to Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. K.G., Hamburg, Germany Filed June 17, 1968, Ser. No. 737,447 Claims priority, applicfitiggl gSermany, June 21, 1967,

Int. Cl. uss 65/30 US. Cl. 214-301 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A feeding apparatus wherein a cage transfers filled cigarette trays from a platform to a delivery position on top of the hopper for a packing machine. An auxiliary magazine having walls extending between the panels of the hopper and the walls of a tray in delivery position accommodates that surplus of cigarettes which cannot immediately find room in the hopper. A filled tray is lifted With reference to the cage not later than when it reaches the delivery position and is lowered and inverted during movement with the cage away from such deliverV position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for feeding cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, filter rods, filter rod sections and analogous rod-shaped articles. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus for feeding groups or batches of rod-shaped articles into a magaline or hopper which supplies such articles to a packing or like consuming or processing machine. Still more particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus which is utilized to dump the contents of chargers, trays or like receptacles for cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles into a hopper or magazine so as to insure that the supply of articles in the magazine does not decrease below a predetermined minimum level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of our invention to provide a feeding apparatus which can transfer the contents of successive chargers or trays for cigarettes or like rod-shaped articles into a hopper or magazine in rapid sqeuence so as to meet the requirements of high-speed packing or other consuming machines and to insure that the articles are delivered into the magazine without undergoing excessive deformation and without being compelled to descend through distances of excessive height such as could cause misalignment in and eventual clogging of the magazine.

Another object of the invention is to provide the feeding apparatus with novel means for confining and guiding the articles during transfer from a tray or charger into the magazine for a packing or other consuming machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide the feeding apparatus with novel means for supporting and moving filled and empty trays on their way toward and away from the magazine.

The invention is embodied in an apparatus for feeding to a packing or other consuming machine cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles which are stored in containers of the type having a pair of side walls flanking a group or batch of articles. The apparatus comprises a magazine or hopper arranged to supply articles to one or more consuming machines and having a pair of side panels and an open top, a source of supply of filled containers, a transfer mechanism including a receptacle arranged to accept filled containers from the source and Patentedsept. 8, 1970 "ice - of a container in delivery position to define an additional storing space serving to temporarily accommodate the surplus of articles, i.e., those articles which cannot immediately find room in the magazine. In other words, the confining means forms an auxiliary magazine on top of the primary magazine and can temporarily store a desired quantity of articles to insure that the supply of articles in the primary magazine does not descend below a predetermined minimum level while the receptacle of the transfer mechanism delivers a freshly evacuated container to a receiving station for empty containers and While the receptacle thereupon accepts from the source of supply a filled container and delivers the container to an intermediate or waiting position close to the primary magazine.

The walls of the confining means may be rigid or deformable and they may but need not be affixed to the panels of the primary magazine. Also, such walls may be provided with or connected to lifting means which lifts a filled container in delivery position with reference to the receptacle to insure rapid transfer of articles from the container into the primary and auxiliary magazines.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved feeding apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a feeding apparatus which embodies one form of our invention and serves to evacuate the contents of filled chargers or trays into the magazine for a cigarette packing machine;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the feeding apparatus, the receptacle for trays being shown in inverted position at a level above the open top of the magazine;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the structure shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a second feeding apparatus, a tray being shown in inverted position at a level above the magazine for the packing machine;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view of a detail of the structure shown in FIG. 6, the receptacle for trays being shown in an intermediate position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the electric circuit in the appa' ratus of FIGS. 1 to 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a feeding apparatus which is employed to transfer the contents of filled containers in the form of chargers or trays 9 into the magazine 4 for a consuming machine 3, for example, a packing machine wherein arrays of twenty cigarettes each can be introduced into envelopes to form conventional cigarette packs. The feeding apparatus comprises a frame 1 which includes an upright 2 having a horizontal arm or beam 5 located at a level above the consuming machine 3. The frame 1 further includes an upper platform 6 constituting a source of supply of filled trays 9 and a lower platform 7 defining a receiving station for a series of empty trays 12. Filled trays 9 rest on the upper stretches of endless conveyor belts 8 which advance such trays toward a transfer zone where the foremost filled tray 9 is ready to be transferred toward and to discharge its contents through the open top of the magazine 4. Empty trays 12 rest on the upper stretches of endless belts 11. A receiving means here shown as a vertical duct 13 extends downwardly from the foremost end of the upper platform 6 toward the lower platform 7; its purpose is to guide a freshly evacuated tray 12 onto the belts 11 so that such tray can be removed from the frame 1 by being transported to a producing machine or maker where it receives a fresh charge or group of cigarettes 10. The receiving duct 13 is provided with suitable braking means (not shown) which controls the speed of descending empty trays. The forward end of the upper platform 6 is adjacent to the intake end of the duct 13, i.e., the upper platform is somewhat shorter than the lower platform 7.

The transfer mechanism of the feeding apparatus comprises a receptacle or cage 14 which is movable from registry with the discharge end of the upper platform 6 into registry with the open top of the magazine 4 and vice versa and which is also pivotable about a horizontal axis so that it can invert successive filled trays 9 during travel to a level above the open top of the magazine. The cage 14 is rigid with two coaxial sleeves 15, 16 (FIG. 2) which are turnable about and reciprocable along a horizontal shaft 17. The ends of the shaft 17 are mounted in an arm 18 of the upright 2 and in a similar arm 19 (FIG. 2) of the beam 5. The cage 14 is provided with two additional coaxial sleeves 21, 22 (FIG. 2) which are slidable along a second horizontal shaft 23. The latter shaft is mounted in levers 24, 25 which are affixed to and extend substantially radially from the shaft 17. The means for reciprocating the cage 14 along the shaft 17 and for pivoting the cage about the axis of this shaft comprises a drive including a motor 72 (FIG. 9) which can rotate the shaft 17 with the levers 24, 25 and shaft 23 and which can also reciprocate a motion transmitting linkage 20 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; this linkage is coupled to the sleeve 16 and serves to move the cage 14 back and forth along the shafts 17 and 23. The details of a drive which can be used in the feeding apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 4 to pivot the cage '14 about the axis of the shaft 17 and to move the cage back and forth along this shaft are disclosed, for example, in German utility model No. 1,938,552 which is owned by the assignee of the present application. The motor 72 is preferably mounted on the upright 2 or is supported by another part of the frame 1.

The means for releasably coupling a loaded tray 9 to the cage 14 during transfer from the transfer zone at the forward end of the upper platform 6 to the delivery position above the open top of the magazine 14 comprises two lateral coupling members or clamps 26 and two bottom coupling members or clamps 27 all of which share the movements of the cage. The lateral clamps 26 are turnable about pivot pins 29 (FIG. 3) mounted in bearings 28 carried by the respective side walls of the cage 14. Springs 31 bias the clamps 26 to retaining or coupling positions in which the clamps engage the front edges of the side walls 9a, 9b, of a filled magazine 9 in the cage 14. The clamps 26 are automatically pivoted to open positions when the cage 14 approaches the transfer zone at the discharge end of the platform 6. The means for effecting such movements of clamps 26 to open positions may consist of stationary cams which can move the clamps 26 apart when the cage 14 delivers an empty tray 12 into registry with the intake end of the duct 13. The bottom clamps 27 are connected to the bottom wall of the cage 14 by hinges 32 and carry laterally extending shafts 33 for roller followers 34. Helical springs 35 operate between the cage 14 and the bottom clamps 27 to bias the latter to the retaining or coupling positions shown in FIG. 1.

The cage 14 is further provided with a pivotable lid or cover 36 which closes the top of a filled tray 9 during transfer from the platform 6 to the magazine 4, at least while the tray 9 is being inverted to a position of registry with the open top of the magazine. The configuration of the lid 36 is shown in FIG. 3; it is turnable about a horizontal pintle 37 which is mounted in bearings 38 carried by the cage '14. A spring (not shown) is provided to permanently bias the lid 36 to an open position and a rocking mechanism 39 (FIG. 2) on the cage 14 serves to pivot the lid 36 against the opposition of such spring to a retaining or operative position which is shown in FIG. 1. The rocking mechanism 39' can pivot the lid 36 to retaining position and can hold the lid in such retaining position during certain stages of operation of the transfer mechanism.

The feeding apparatus further comprises a confining means including at least two but preferably three auxiliary guide walls or guides 4143 which confine the contents of a filled tray 9 during transfer into the magazine 4. The auxiliary walls 41-43 are respectively disposed above and can form extensions of the side panels 4a, 4b and front panel 40 of the magazine 4 (see FIG. 2). These auxiliary walls respectively extend between the panels 4a, 4b, 4c and the lateral and rear walls 9a, 9b, 9c of a filled tray 9 in inverted or delivery position. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, each of the auxiliary walls 41-43 constitutes a roller blind. The blind 41 comprises a roller or shaft 41a, a housing 41b which accommodates a customary return spring for the roller 41a, and a sheet or shade 41c which preferably consists of flexible lastic material. The blind 42 comprises a roller or shaft 42a, a spring housing 42b and a sheet or shade 420. The corresponding parts of the third blind 43 are respectively denoted by the numerals 43a, 43b and 43c. The axes of the rollers 41a, 42a, 43a are horizontal and extend in parallelism with the planes of walls 4a, 4b and 40. Two supporting brackets 44, 45 are provided to directly support one end of each of the rollers 41a, 42a and 41a, 43a. The other ends of these rollers are mounted in the respective brackets 44, 45 by way of the associatd spring housings 41b-43b. The lower edge of each of the sheets 41c- 430 is affixed to the respective roller 41a-43a and the upper edge of each of these sheets is afiixed to the inner side of a common carriage 46. The latter is rigid with two vertical rods 47, 48 which are slidably guided by bearing sleeves 51, 52. The upper ends of the rods 47, 48 are connected to each other by a horizontal crosshead 49. The bearing sleeves 51, 52 form part of two columns 54, 55 which are rigid with a stationary holder 53. This holder 53 comprises a supporting plate 56 for a reversible gear motor 57; the latter drives a pinion 58 which meshes with a vertical rack 59 affixed to the crosshead 49.

The lateral sides of the carriage 46 are n'gid with two plates '61, 62 having openings for the elements of a level indicating and signal generating device includes a light source 63 on the plate 61 and a photosensitive receiver 64 on the plate 62. The carriage 46 constitutes a means for lifting a filled tray 9 with reference to the cage 14 when such filled tray reaches the delivery position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The means for pivoting the bottom clamps 27 to open positions comprises two subsequentially horizontal actuating rods 65 which are mounted on the columns 54, 55. The feeding apparatus further comprises a substantially U-shaped guide 66 which serves to guide a freshly evacuated tray (in raised position) during pivotal movement with the cage 14 to a lower level. The guide 66 also serves to push the raised freshly evacuated tray to a lower position. It is mounted on two vertical bars 67, 68 which are affixed to the holder 53.

A realigning plate '69 of Plexiglas or the like is aflixed to and extends upwardly from the rear panel 401' of the magazine 4. Its function is to effect axial return movement of those cigarettes 10 which change their axial position under the action of centrifugal force when the cage 14 is pivoted upwardly to move a filled tray 9 into delivery position above the open top of the magazine 4. The realigning plate 69 extends upwardly beyond the bearing sleeves 51, 52 and its width approximates that of the cage 14. Recesses 71 are provided in the regions of the upper corners of the plate 69 to permit passage of lateral clamps 26 when the cage 14 is caused to pivot upwardly.

A filled tray 9 is supported by the cake 14 in such a way that its open front side faces the direction of travel while the cage 14 swings upwardly to a level above the magazine 4. Thus, the rear wall 90 of the tray 9 then prevents escape of cigarettes 10 in rearward direction. If it is desired to transfer filled trays 9 in such a way that their open sides face forwardly during travel along the upper platform 6, i.e., that their rear walls 90 are located in front during pivotal movement about the axis of the shaft 17, the feeding apparatus comprises a modified cage which has a rear wall (not shown) serving to prevent escape of cigarettes 10 in forward direction during pivotal movement with a filled tray. The realigning plate 69 is then omitted and the carriage 46 then supports the upper edge of a fourth auxiliary wall (similar to the auxiliary wall 41) whose flexible sheet is parallel to the sheet 41c. Such fourth auxiliary wall extends between the rear wall 9c of a tray 9 in the modified cage and all the way to the rear wall 4d of the magazine 4. Its purpose is to prevent axial displacement of cigarettes due to shocks while the cage pivots with a filed tray 9 (whose rear wall 90 faces forwardly) to a position above the magazine 4.

The electric circuit of the feeding apparatus is shown in FIG. 9 and comprises the aforementioned electric motors 57, 72, a programming unit 73, relays 74, 75, 76, 77, an amplifier 78 for the signal generating device '63, 64, three limit switches 79, 81, 82 and a master switch 83. The programming unit 73 is of conventional design and the exact details of its construction form no part of the present invention. Programming units which can be utilized in the circuit of FIG. 9 are produced by Schleicher G.m.h.H. & Co. KG., of Berlin, Germany, and Ernst Tesch KG., Wuppertal, Germany.

As shown in FIG. 1, the limit switches 81, 82 are mounted on a supporting post 50 which is affixed to the arm 5. These limit switches can be actuated by a trip 40 (FIG. 1) which is mounted on the crosshead 49. The limit switch 79 is mounted on a plate 60 (FIG. 2) which is afiixed to the cage 14. The master switch 83 is connected in the power leads T, S, R of a three-phase energy source for the motors. The zero lead is indicated by a phantom line. The relay 74 has three contacts 74a, 74b, 740 the first of which is connected with the lead R by a conductor 84 and with the motor 72 by a conductor 85. The contact 74b is respectively connected with the lead S and motor 72 by conductors 86, 87 and the contact 74c is connected with the lead T and motor 72 by conductors 88, 89. The winding of the relay 74 is respectively connected to the programming unit 73 and lead 0 by conductors 91, 92. A further conductor 93 connects the motor 72 with the lead 0.

The relay 75 comprises contacts 75a, 75b, 75:1, 752. Conductors 94, 95 respectively connect the contact 75a with the lead R and motor 57. The contact 75b is connected with the lead S and motor 57 by conductors 96, 97. Conductors 98, 99 connect the contact 750 with the lead T and motor 57. A further conductor 158 connects the motor 57 with the lead 0. The contact 75d is connected with the winding of relay 76 and with the contact 770 of relay 77 by conductors 116, 118. The contact 75a is connected with a conductor 122 by a conductor 121, and the conductor 122 connects the contact 76d of the relay 76 with the contact 7712 of the relay 77. A conductor 125 connects the contact 75e with a conductor 128 which connects the limit switch 79 with the contact 77b of the relay 77.

The relay 76 has contacts 76a, 7612, 760, 76d, 762. The contact 760 is connected to the conductors 98, '95 by conductors 101, 102 respectively. Conductors 106, 107 respectively connect the contact 76b with conductors 96, 97. Conductors 108, 115 connect the contact 760 with the conductors 94, 99. The contact 76d is connected with the winding of the relay 75 by a conductor 129, and the contact 766 is connected with a conductor 132 by way of conductor 131. The conductor 132 is connected to the lead R. A further conductor 133 connects the contact 76e with the contact 810: of the limit switch :81. Still another conductor 134 connects the programming unit 73 with the conductor 132, and an additional conductor 137 connects the unit 73 with the lead 0. A conductor 138 connects the conductor 137 with the winding of the relay 76. The conductor 141 connects the winding of the relay 75 with the lead 0.

The light source 63 is connected with the conductor 132 by a conductor 142 and with the conductor 141 by a conductor 143. The receiver 64 is connected with the amplifier 78 by a conductor 144, and the amplifier 78 is further connected with the conductor 132 by a conductor 145 with the conductor 143 by way of a conductor 146. A conductor 147 connects the amplifier 78 'with the winding of the relay 77, and a further conductor 148 connects this winding with the conductor 143. The contact 77a of the relay 77 is connected with the conductor 132 and contact 82a of the limit switch 82 by conductors 149, 151. The contact 82a is further connected with the programming unit 73 by a conductor 152. The contact 82b of the limit switch 82 is connected with the con ductor 132 and contact 770 of relay 77 by conductors 153, 154.

The limit switch 81 has contacts 81a, 81b the first of which is connected with the conductor 152 by way of a conductor 157. The contact 81b is connected with the conductor 153 and limit switch 79 by way of conductors 155, 156.

The operation is as follows:

The magazine 4 supplies cigarettes 10 to the packing machine 3 so that the level of cigarettes therein descends and ultimately drops below the path of light issuing from the source 63 of the level indicating and signal generating device. Such light beam reaches the receiver 64 which sends a signal to the aforementioned drive for the cage 14. The level indicating device also controls downward movements of the carrier 46; it sends a signal to the drive for the cage 14 when the carriage 46 assumes a lower end position in which the major portions of sheets 410-430 are convoluted on the respective rollers 41a-43a. Such winding of sheets 410-430 onto the respective rollers 41a-43a is effected by springs in the housings 41b-43b in a manner well known from the art of roller blinds. The trip 40 actuates the limit switch 82 by opening the contact 82b and by closing the contact 820.

When the beam from the light source 63 reaches the receiver 64, the latter sends a signal to the amplifier 78 which energizes the relay 77 so that the contacts 17711-770 close. The programming unit 73 receives an impulse by way of the conductor 149, contact 77a, conductor 151, contact 82a and conductor 152. This causes the unit 73 to initiate a predetermined series of steps by completing the circuit of the relay '74 via conductor 91. The relay 74 completes the circuit of the motor 72. This motor is started when the cage 14 is already held in an inclined position adjacent to the magazine 4 (see FIG. 1) and accommodates a filled tray 9. The cage 14 is then pivoted about the axis of the shaft 17 and the open side of the filled tray 9 therein moves against the realigning plate 69 so that the latter changes the axial position of those cigarettes 10 which happen to be shifted during pivotal movement of the cage. The top of the filled tray 9 (in inverted or delivery position) rests on the carriage 46. While the cage 14 pivots from the position of FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 2 or 3, the actuating rods 65 engage the roller followers 34 of the corresponding bottom clamps 27 and move them to the open positions shown in FIG. 3 whereby the rods 65 overcome the opposition of springs 35. Consequently, the tray 9 is movable up and down with reference to the cage 14. When the cage 14 assumes the inverted position of FIG. 2 or 3, the aforementioned rocking mechanism 39 allows the springs to abruptly pivot the lid 36 away from the retaining position below the inverted tray 9 whereby the cigarettes 10' are free to descend through the open top of and into the interior of the magazine 4. At the same time, the lid 36 actuates the limit switch 79 (see FIG. 3) which starts the motor 57 in a sense to move the rack 59 upwardly and to transport the carriage 46 with the tray 9 to a raised position in which the rollers 41a-43a pay out the respective sheets 410-430. This takes place nearly simultaneously with release of cigarettes 10 in the inverted tray 9, i.e., the lid allows the cigarettes to descend by gravity.

The circuit of the motor 57 is completed in response to closing of the limit switch 79 by lid 36 in the following way: The relay '75 is energized via conductors 153, 155, contact 81b of limit switch 81, conductors 156, 128, contact 77b of relay 77, conductor 122, contact 76d of relay 76 and conductors 129, 141. The relay 75 then closes its contacts 75a, 75b, 75c, 75c while the contact 75d opens. The conductors 94-99 supply to the motor 57 current in a sense to move the carriage 46 upwardly. The length of auxiliary walls formed by the sheets 41c-43c increases and these walls follow the carriage 46 to insure that the cigarettes 10 descend in a channel and are confined from four sides (namely, by the sheets 41c-43c) and by the plate 69. The cage 9 discharges its contents into this channel, i.e., into the space between the plate 69 and sheets 410-430. While the motor 57 drives the carriage 46 upwardly, the contact 75e of the relay 75 and the condoctors 125, 121 bridge the relay 77. These parts form a holding circuit which insures that the carriage 46 continues to rise even though the descending cigarettes 10 interrupt the light beam which issues from the source 63, i.e., even though the relay 77 is deenergized and its contact 77b interrupts the flow of current to the relay 75. The motor 57 is automatically arrested by the limit switch 81 when the carriage 46 reaches an upper end position. The limit switch 81 is actuated by the trip 40, which moves with the cage 14, and closes its contact 81a While the contact 8111 opens. The contact 81b deenergizes the relay 75 so that the contacts 75a, 75b, 750, 75a open and the contact 75d closes. The latter contact prepares the relay 76 for energization by the signal generating device 63, 64 by way of the relay 77. The contact 81a prepares the programming unit 73 so that the latter is ready to be actuated by way of relay 76 via conductors 131, 133, 157 and 152.

The carriage 46 dwells in the upper end position. When the level of cigarettes drops below the light source 63 which dwells in the upper end position because it is secured to the carriage 46, the receiver 64 sends a signal to the amplifier 78 which energizes the relay 77 so that the latter again closes the contacts 77a-77c to energize the relay 76 by way of the conductor 153, contact 82b, conductor 154, contact 770, conductor 118, contact 75d and conductors 11-6, 138, 127. The contacts 76a, 76b, 76c, 76:: close and the contact 76d opens. This starts two operations, namely, the programming unit 73 is acti-- vated by way of contact 76a and the motor 57 is started via contacts 76a, 76b, 76c and conductors 9499, 101, 102, 106, 107, 108, 115 in a sense to move the carriage 46 downwardly. The unit 73 causes the relay 74 to start the motor 72 in a sense to pivot the cage 14 to its original position whereby the freshly evacuated tray 12 travels along the guide 66 and returns to its starting position, i.e., it descends with reference to the cage 14. Even though a tray can move up and down with reference to the cage 14 when the latter dwells in inverted position above the magazine 4, the clamps 26 continue to connect the tray to the cage for pivotal movement about the axis of the shaft 17. The cage 14 then moves along the shafts 17 and 23 to move the empty tray 12 above the intake end of the duct 13. The empty tray is released to descend onto the lower platform 7 by way of the duct 13 and the cage immediately accepts a filled tray 9 from the upper platform 6 to return therewith to the intermediate or waiting position shown in FIG. 1. Such return movement of the cage 14 with a filled tray 9 therein involves axial movement along the shafts 17. 23 and pivotal movement about the shaft 17. This movement is controlled by the unit 73.

When the indicating device 63, 64 sends a signal to the drive of the cage 14 in order to effect movement of the cage with an empty tray therein toward the duct 13, the receiver 64 also sends a signal to the motor 57 which lowers the carriage 46 to a level at which the cigarettes in the magazine 4 interrupt the light beam between the source 63 and receiver 64. This arrests the motor 57 by way of the amplifier 78 and relay 77 so that the carriage 46 comes to a halt. The downward movement of the carriage is independent of the movement of cage 14 toward the duct 13 (delivery of an empty tray 12) and into registry with the platform 6 (reception of a filled tray 9). If the operation of the packing machine 3 is normal, the level of cigarettes in the channel between the sheets 41c43c and plate 69 sinks gradually or stepwise so that the receiver 64 starts the motor 57 again and causes the carriage 46 to descend. The same procedure is repeated again and again until the carriage 46 reaches its lower end position. The carriage then actuates the limit switch 82 so that the contact 82b opens and the contact 82a closes. The relay 76 is deenergized and the motor 57 is arrested. The contact 76d closes in response to deenergization of the relay 76 to prepare the relay 75 for energization by way of relay 77 and limit switch 79. The contact 82a connects the programming unit 73 with the relay 77 by way of conductors 151, 152. The unit 73 is then ready to initiate a series of steps in response to a signal from the receiver 64. This is the situation which was already described hereinabove. If the level of cigarettes 10 sinks below the beam which issues from the light source 63 (while the carriage 46 dwells in its lower end position), the motor 72 for the cage 14 receives a signal to invert the awaiting cage 14 with a filled tray 9 therein in a manner as described above.

FIGS. 5 to 8 illustrate a modified feeding apparatus certain parts of which are denoted by numerals similar to those employed in FIGS. 1 to 4 plus 100. For example, the packing or consuming machine is shown at 103, the magazine or hopper at 104, the receptacle or cage at 114, the containers or trays at 109, 112, the coupling members or clamps at 126, 127, and the shafts for the cage 114 at 117, 123. The frame, its upright and the platforms for the trays 109, 112 were omitted because their design is preferably identical or similar to that of the corresponding parts shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

The apparatus of FIGS. 5 to 8 comprises a confining means including two lateral auxiliary walls 172, 173 which replace the blinds 42, 43 and constitute rigid upward extensions of side panels 184, of the magazine 104. These auxiliary walls extend all the way to the side walls 109a, 10% of a filled tray 109 in inverted or delivery position. The top edges of the auxiliary walls 172, 173 form two arcuate cam faces, as at 172a, 173a. These cam faces constitute a means for lifting a filled tray 109 with reference to the cage 114 when the filled tray approaches the delivery position shown in FIGS. and 6. The auxiliary walls 172, 173 have aligned openings for the elements of an upper level indicating and signal generating device including a light source 174 and a photosensitive receiver 175 and for the elements of a lower level indicating and signal generating device in cluding a light source 176 and a photosensitive receiver 177.

In order to insure that the cigarettes 110 which are immediately adjacent to the cover or lid 136 do not adhere thereto during pivotal movement of the lid to retracted position, the apparatus of FIGS. 5 to 8 comprises a stripping device 178 which extends transversely of the cage 114 and is secured thereto so that it retains the cigarettes in the tray 109 when the lid 136 is pivoted by a spring to retracted position. The plate '69 of FIGS. 1 to 4 is replaced by a plate 179 whose lower portion constitutes the rear panel of the magazine 104 and which extends upwardly and well beyond the side panels 184, 185. The purpose of the upper portion of the plate 179 is the same as that of the plate '69. This upper portion of the plate 179 has two recesses or cutouts 181 for the passage of lateral clamps 126 when the cage 114 is moved to inverted position.

The beam or arm 105 of the frame supports two upwardly extending columns 182, 183 which support the actuating rods 165 for the bottom clamps 127. The actuating rods 165 are adjustable along the respective columns 182, 183. Furthermore, the columns 182, 183 support a vertically adjustable curved guide 166 which performs the same function as the guide 66 of FIGS. 1 to 4, i.e., it pushes an empty tray 112 downwardly while the cage 114 pivots in a clockwise direction from the inverted position shown in FIG. 6.

The operation of the feeding apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 is as follows:

When the level of the supply of cigarettes 110 in the magazine or hopper 104 descends below the upper indicating device 174, 175, the receiver 175 sends a signal to the drive for the cage 114 which moves the cage and the empty tray 112 therein away from the inverted or delivery position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6- in which the cage is immediately adjacent to the upper portion of the plate 179. As the cage 114 moves from the position of FIG. 6 to that shown in FIG. 7, the guide 166 depresses the empty tray 112 to a lower end position with reference to the cage 114 after the tray 112 moves away from the cam faces 172a, 173a of the auxiliary walls 172, 173. The actuating rods 165 release the bottom clamps 127 (see FIG. 7) so that these clamps engage the bottom wall of the empty tray 112 (which is still in partly inverted position). The cage 114 then continues to pivot in a clockwise direction beyond the position shown in FIG. 7 and advances along the shafts 117, 123 to move the empty tray 112 into registry with the intake end of the duct 13 (not shown in FIGS. 5 to 8). The cage 114 thereupon accepts a filled tray 109 and returns to and beyond the intermediate position of FIG. 7. While the cage 114 pivots in a counterclockwise direction (beyond the position shown in FIG. 7), the top part of the filled tray 109 therein slides along and is lifted by the cam faces 172a, 173a of the auxiliary walls 172, 173 (see FIG. 8). The cage 114 then dwells in the waiting position of FIG. 8 in which the actuating rods 165 engage and hold the bottom clamps 127 in open positions. The cage 114 remains in such waiting position until the supply of cigarettes 110 in the magazine 104 descends to the level of the lower indicating device 176, 177. The receiver 177 then sends a signal to the drive for the cage 114 so that the latter pivots in a counterclockwise direction, i.e., beyond the waiting position of FIG. 8 and to the fully inverted position shown in FIG. 5 or 6. In other words, the cage 114 moves the filled tray 109 all the way to the upper portion of the plate 179. When the cage 114 reaches such inverted position, the mechanism 139 allows the lid 136 to move to retracted or open position so that the cigarettes can leave the tray 109 to descend into the channel defined by the plate 179 and auxiliary walls 172, 173 and into the interior of the magazine 104.

The just described procedure is repeated when the supply of cigarettes 110 sinks below the upper indicating device 174, 175. Thus, the cage 114 moves with the empty tray 112 to and beyond the position of FIG. 7 and delivers the empty tray to the duct 13 and accepts a filled tray 109 prior to returning to the waiting position of FIG. 8. The signal for movement of the cage 114 from the position of FIG. 8 to that shown in FIG. 5 or 6 is produced by the receiver 177 of the lower indicating device.

An important advantage of our feeding apparatus is that the confining walls 41-43 or 172-173 form an auxiliary magazine serving to accommodate all those rod-shaped articles 10 or 110 which have no room in the primary magazine 4 or 104 when a tray 9 or 109 dumps its contents at the delivery station. Therefore, an empty tray 12 or 112 can be removed from the delivery station and a fresh filled tray 9 or 109 moved to waiting position close to the delivery station while the auxiliary magazine feeds its contents into the primary magazine 4 or 104. This is important in feeding apparatus of the type to which our invention pertains and wherein the path for transfer of empty trays 12 or 112 from the delivery position coincides with the path for transfer of filled trays 9 or 109 from the source of supply 6 to such delivery position. In other words, the auxiliary magazine formed by the walls 41-43 or 172-173 insures that an empty tray can .be delivered to the duct 13 and that a filled tray can be moved to waiting position close to the primary magazine 4 or 104 while the supply of rod shaped articles in the primary magazine decreases at a rapid rate, for example, when the machine 3 or 103 is a high-speed packing machine or when the primary magazine 4 or 104 is to supply cigarettes or the like to several consuming machines.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. Apparatus for feeding to a consuming machine cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles which are stored in containers of the type having a pair of side walls flanking a group of articles, comprising a magazine arranged to supply articles to the consuming machine and having a pair of side panels and an open top; a source of supply of filled containers; a transfer mechanism including a movable receptacle arranged to accept filled containers from said source, to transfer such containers to a delivery position above the open top of said magazine, and to remove evacuated containers from said delivery position, said receptacle having means for movably retaining a container therein so that a filled container which is at least close to said delivery position is movable with reference to said receptacle to move upwardly relative to said magazine; lifting means for moving containers with reference to said receptacle; and confining means including auxiliary walls provided between the side panels of said magazine and the side walls of a container in delivery position to define an additional storing space which accommodates articles when the magazine is filled to capacity.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for receiving evacuated containers from said re- 1 1 ceptacle during movement of said receptacle to said source of supply.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each container comprises a third wall flanking a group of articles between the side walls thereof and wherein said magazine also comprises a third panel which is substantially aligned with the third wall of a container in delivery position, said confining means comprising a third auxiliary wall extending between said third panel and the third wall of a container in said delivery position.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said lifting means is provided on said confining means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary walls are rigid.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary walls comprise flexible portions.

7. Apparatus for feeding to a consuming machine cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles which are stored in containers of the type having a pair of side walls flanking a group of articles, comprising a magazine arranged to supply articles to the consuming machine and having a pair of side panels and an open top; a source of supply of filled containers; a transfer mechanism including a receptacle arranged to accept filled containers from said source and to transfer such containers to a delivery position above the open top of said magazine, said receptacle having means for movably retaining a container therein; confining means including auxiliary walls provided between the side panels of said magazine and the side walls of a container in delivery position to define an additional storing space which accommodates artic es when the magazine is filled to capacity, each of said auxiliary walls comprising a roller blind having a rotary roller, a flexible sheet having a lower edge portion connected with the respective roller and an upper edge portion, and means for biasing said rollers in a direction to collect the respective sheets thereon; and a carriage movable up and down with reference to said magazine and connected with the upper edge portion of said sheets.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said rollers are adjacent and parallel to the respective panels of said magazine and wherein said sheets consist of plastic material.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said carriage constitutes a support for a container in said delivery position thereof.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, further comprising motor means for moving said carriage with reference to said magazine and indicating means having means for detecting the level of articles in said magazine, said indicating means being operatively connected with said motor means to efl ect movements of said carriage as a function of changes in the level of articles in said magazine.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said indicating means is mounted on said carriage.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for movably retaining a container in said receptacle comprises coupling means movable with reference to said receptacle between retaining and open positions and further comprising actuating means for moving said coupling means to open position in predetermined positions of said receptacle with reference to said magazine.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising guide means for lowering an evacuated container with reference to said receptacle during movement away from delivery position.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transfer mechanism comprises means for inverting said receptacle during movement away from said source of supply.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said containers have open tops and wherein said receptacle comprises cover means overlying the open top of a container therein during transfer from said source of supply to said delivery position.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said cover means is movable with reference to said receptacle between open and article-retaining positions and further comprising means for moving the cover means to open position in response to transfer of a container to delivery position. v 17. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary walls form a secondary magazine which accommodates at least some of the contents of a container when the first mentioned magazine is filled to capacity prior to complete evacuation of a container in said delivery position.

18. Apparatus for feeding to a consuming machine cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles which are stored in containers of the type having a pair of side Walls flanking a group of articles, comprising a magazine arranged to supply articles to the consuming machine and having a pair of side panels and an open top; a source of supply of filled containers; a transfer mechanism including a receptacle arranged to accept filled containers from said source and to transfer such containers to a delivery position above the open top of said magazine, said receptacle having means for movably retaining a container therein; and confining means including auxiliary walls provided between the side panels of said magazme and the side walls of a container in delivery position to define an additional storing space which accommodates articles when the magazine is filled to capacity, said auxiliary walls being afiixed to the side panels of said magazine and at least one thereof comprising an arcuate cam face which lifts a filled container with reference to said receptacle during movement to delivery position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,681,160 6/1954 Molins et al. 214-302 2,701,070 2/1955' Molins 2l4301 3,239,085 3/1966 Schermund 214-307 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

